[aleph_minus_one]

> if they are just a disgruntled malcontent who will also be disgruntled and malcontent at your company. The downside of hiring a malcontent is huge.

Honestly, I get much better along with malcontents than with these "annoyingly positive" people. So, tastes differ.

> An interviewer can assume that most quality candidates are also aware of this dynamic and will wisely choose to represent the positive aspects of their job history.

Many highly qualified candidates are bad actors and/or bad self-promoters.

[bumby]

I prefer positive people but can deal with complainers if they’re actively looking to make thinking better. The problem is when malcontents only bitch and rarely do anything about it. That creates a toxic environment.

[rcxdude]

Also very much depends on whether they're right or not. You can always compain about something, are they actually complaining about the things that matter?

[achierius]

I don't know if you and GP are using 'malcontent' to refer to the same kind of person.

[blitzar]

plural noun: malcontents :- a person who is dissatisfied and rebellious.

In Silicon Valley that is called a Founder.

[taormina]

And you don’t hire founders.

[Apocryphon]

Pithily true, but what about acquihires?

[svnt]

They didn’t apply to a job posting.

[blitzar]

Job posting's apply to them.